WASHINGTON, May 24, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- TASER International, Inc. (Nasdaq:TASR), a market leader in advanced electronic control devices, released the following News Alert:

According to news reports from The Arizona Republic and the East Valley Tribune, at a press conference at the Maricopa County Sheriff Training Academy on Tuesday Sheriff Joe Arpaio announced that he plans to have 1,900 of his 2,200 officers armed with TASER(r) devices. Maricopa County officers will be armed with both the TASER X26 as well as the TASER Cam. Training for the use of TASER devices is currently underway.

With the new camera system, audio and video footage can be recorded for up to 90 minutes from the time the TASER is pulled from an officer's holster. Sheriff Arpaio's announcement signifies the first TASER system deployment in a correctional facility and the first major deployment of the TASER Cam in the country.

"You cannot put a price on officer and inmate safety," said Arpaio. "We must do all we can within reason to keep our employees and inmates safe from harm. TASERs will go a long way towards that goal."